NJ warns about bogus Treasury check scam

State officials are warning consumers about a new scam involving highly detailed and realistic-looking checks purportedly from the Department of Treasury that are in fact bogus.

At least one person in Ohio received a fraudulent $3,800 state check that came with a letter explaining the check was being sent for a “Mystery Shopper assignment.”

The recipient was instructed to deposit the check, keep $200 and wire the balance to two separate Western Union locations – supposedly to evaluate the Western Union services.

“This fake check, purporting to be from the State Treasury, is a new twist on what is known as the ‘cashier’s check scam,’” said Eric T. Kanefsky, acting director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. “This is the latest example of an emerging trend in which con artists send out official-looking documents, falsely using the names of government agencies, to fool victims. Consumers need to be suspicious of any letter or email that says they’ve won a prize or legal settlement, or offers them free money.”

The “cashier’s check” is worthless and once it bounces, the depositor is out whatever amount has been transferred to the scammer.

This is the latest in a growing trend of crooks using official-looking documents to carry out their scams, said Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa.

“We are seeing with more and more frequency that technology makes it easier than ever for con artists to create phony legal documents, checks, and even websites that mimic those of government entities or businesses,” Chiesa said. “Consumers should stop and verify the truth of any communication that asks them to send money, or their bank account or other sensitive information, to a third party.”

Last month, the Attorney General’s office warned about crooks sending a fake legal document purportedly from the state to people claiming they were eligible to collect money from a fictitious multi-million-dollar legal settlement. Recipients were instructed to send emails or call a special number, where presumably the con artists would try to get them to divulge confidential information like bank account numbers.

In February the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission warned investors of similar scams, in which fraudsters posing as SEC employees called victims over the phone and offered large sums of money if the victims would transfer smaller amounts of money into a specific account.

Kanefsky noted that each of these government-impostor scams includes information that at first appears to be official and accurate, but does not hold up under closer scrutiny. He said consumers should not call any numbers that may be on the communication itself, but instead find the government agency’s real contact information separately, via the agency’s website or by telephone, to learn whether the letter is real.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed can file a complaint with the DCA by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 toll free within New Jersey.

NJ warns about bogus Treasury check scam

State officials are warning consumers about a new scam involving highly detailed and realistic-looking checks purportedly from the Department of Treasury that are in fact bogus.

At least one person in Ohio received a fraudulent $3,800 state check that came with a letter explaining the check was being sent for a “Mystery Shopper assignment.”

The recipient was instructed to deposit the check, keep $200 and wire the balance to two separate Western Union locations – supposedly to evaluate the Western Union services.

“This fake check, purporting to be from the State Treasury, is a new twist on what is known as the ‘cashier’s check scam,’” said Eric T. Kanefsky, acting director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. “This is the latest example of an emerging trend in which con artists send out official-looking documents, falsely using the names of government agencies, to fool victims. Consumers need to be suspicious of any letter or email that says they’ve won a prize or legal settlement, or offers them free money.”

The “cashier’s check” is worthless and once it bounces, the depositor is out whatever amount has been transferred to the scammer.

This is the latest in a growing trend of crooks using official-looking documents to carry out their scams, said Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa.

“We are seeing with more and more frequency that technology makes it easier than ever for con artists to create phony legal documents, checks, and even websites that mimic those of government entities or businesses,” Chiesa said. “Consumers should stop and verify the truth of any communication that asks them to send money, or their bank account or other sensitive information, to a third party.”

Last month, the Attorney General’s office warned about crooks sending a fake legal document purportedly from the state to people claiming they were eligible to collect money from a fictitious multi-million-dollar legal settlement. Recipients were instructed to send emails or call a special number, where presumably the con artists would try to get them to divulge confidential information like bank account numbers.

In February the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission warned investors of similar scams, in which fraudsters posing as SEC employees called victims over the phone and offered large sums of money if the victims would transfer smaller amounts of money into a specific account.

Kanefsky noted that each of these government-impostor scams includes information that at first appears to be official and accurate, but does not hold up under closer scrutiny. He said consumers should not call any numbers that may be on the communication itself, but instead find the government agency’s real contact information separately, via the agency’s website or by telephone, to learn whether the letter is real.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed can file a complaint with the DCA by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 toll free within New Jersey.